Method and device for recording operational data

ABSTRACT

The method described is used for recording operating data of a technical device. According to the method, a command sequence is initially generated, which is transmitted to a monitoring unit in the technical device. The command sequence is processed in a processing unit in the monitoring unit. In addition, a device for recording operating data and a computer program for implementing the method according to the present invention are provided.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method and a device for recordingoperating data, in particular for recording vehicle operating data.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

In motor vehicles, trip recorders or log books are used to recordvarious data such as the time of day, speed, geographical position,driver confirmations and operating data. There are already electroniclogbooks in use that allow for data to be stored locally in the vehicleand to be read out via special interfaces. The recorded data can betransmitted wirelessly to another point, e.g. to an evaluation unit.Fields of application for these logbooks include, for example, vehiclefleet management, trip recorders in trucks or also private individualswho are required to furnish proof of their driving activities, for thetax authorities for example. A disadvantage of the known logbooks,however, is the fact that they can be used only for specificapplications. The user can select from a series of fixed functions, forexample the functions of storing the geographical position, the time ofday and the odometer reading. The desired function is usually selectedby operating function keys.

German Published Patent Application No. 198 50 057 describes a deviceand a method for recording the movements of a mobile unit, for example,a vehicle. The device described features a mobile telephone terminalwhich is connectable or is connected to the main station of a mobiletelephone network. In the main station, movements of the unit andoptionally additional information are registered, recorded anddocumented. The device described is thus used as an electronic triprecorder supported by mobile telephony, a trip recorder which is toreplace the usual trip logbooks that have to be kept by hand.

European Published Patent Application No. 0 929 879 describes a methodfor transmitting collected data from a plurality of vehicles to a dataprocessing station as well as a device for collecting data in a vehicleand for transmitting the collected data to a data processing station.

According to the method described, in a first step, a first type ofrequest packet is transmitted from every vehicle via a released radiochannel in response to a previously defined operation. This first packettype is registered by a data processing station if a transmittingvehicle is near the processing station. In registering the first packettype, an instruction for data is transmitted from the receiving stationin the form of a second packet type. In response to the instruction, aportion of the collected data is transmitted by a registered vehicle.

The methods and devices described in the documents only allow forfunctions already defined to be implemented wirelessly in the triprecorder and for the wireless retrieval of data obtained.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

By contrast, the method according to the present invention for recordingoperating data of a motor vehicle provides for the generation of acommand sequence and the transmission of is command sequence to amonitoring unit in the motor vehicle. The command sequence is processedin a processing unit in the monitoring unit. The command sequence(macro) represents a series of instructions that can be interpreted andexecuted by the processing unit. This allows for the execution ofspecific functions aimed at particular cases. The user is not limited topreset functions, but is rather able to react individually to externalevents and to configure the trip recorder accordingly.

The monitoring unit used in the method according to the presentinvention is thus configurable in a flexible manner, can be programmedfrom a remote location and serves as a trip recorder or logbook forrecording relevant data. The command sequence can be used to specifywhich data will be recorded and optionally read out.

The command sequence preferably specifies the type of operating datarecording, i.e. it is also possible to determine which data are to berecorded at which locations.

The command sequence can also be parameterized. In this case, the typeof operating data recording will be dependent on the engine speed or thetemperature of the engine oil for example.

The command sequence is preferably generated at a remote location andthen [transmitted] from this location, e.g. from a service provider orhome computer, to the motor vehicle.

A mobile telephone network is a suitable candidate for a transmissionmedium for transmitting the command sequence. In this case, a cellulartelephone is used as an interface to the transmission medium. Thecommand sequence, however, may also be transmitted via a mobile storagemedium.

Prior to processing in the processing unit, the command sequence ispreferably checked for plausibility and is stored in a storage unit, forexample a nonvolatile, rewritable storage device. This ensures thatincorrect command sequences or macros are not executed.

Following or during the execution of the macro, the requested data arestored in the storage unit and/or transmitted.

A refinement of the method according to the present invention providesfor transmitting messages when specific criteria or conditions are met.This can be applied in the case of a rental car, for example, which mayonly be used within a circumscribed region. When the boundaries of thisregion are crossed, a message will be sent to the main station.

The device according to the present invention features a processingunit, a storage unit and a communication module.

The sequence control of the commands contained in the macro occurs inthe processing unit. The device according to the present invention hasaccess to vehicle operating data which may be transmitted via thecommunication module. The plausibility check may also be conducted inthe processing unit or CPU.

Preferably display and operational control elements are provided. Theseelements allow the driver of a motor vehicle to access data of interestdirectly and to establish a communication connection with an evaluationstation. The user is thereby also able to view the recorded data andoptionally to have it deleted or read out.

In a refinement of the present invention, the storage unit features avolatile and a nonvolatile rewritable storage device. The combinations(static or dynamic) of the data to be recorded, the macros and thetemporarily recorded data are preferably stored in the nonvolatilestorage device.

Another method according to the present invention provides that agenerated command sequence is received by a monitoring unit in a motorvehicle and that this command sequence is processed in a processing unitin the monitoring unit.

The computer program according to the present invention includes programcode means for implementing this method according to the presentinvention and is thus executed in the processing unit of the monitoringunit. A computer program, however, may also be used for generating andtransmitting the command sequence.

The computer program product is stored on a computer-readable storagemedium. EEPROMs and flash memories, but also CD-ROMs, diskettes and harddisk drives are used as suitable storage media.

Further advantages and refinements of the present invention come tolight from the description and the accompanying drawing.

It goes without saying that the features indicated above or yet to beexplicated in the following are usable not only in the combinationspecified in each instance, but also in other combinations or bythemselves, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a preferred specific embodiment of the device according tothe present invention in schematic representation.

FIG. 2 shows the structure of a command sequence in schematicrepresentation.

FIG. 3 shows a specific embodiment of the method of the presentinvention in a flow chart.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a preferred specific embodiment of the device according tothe present invention, a monitoring unit 10. A processing unit 12, acommunication module 14, a volatile storage device 16, and nonvolatilerewritable storage device 18, a display unit 20 and four operationalcontrol elements 22 can be seen. The components are connected to oneanother via data lines 24.

Monitoring unit 10 represents a flexibly configurable logbookprogrammable via mobile telephony. When used in a motor vehicle, thisallows for the automatic initialization and launching of monitoringprocesses which are specified by parameters and uniformly structuredmechanisms (macros) for recording operating data.

The command sequences or macros are received via communication module 14and are first advantageously checked for plausibility by processing unit12.

Communication module 14 preferably represents an interface to the mobiletelephone network. In a refinement of the present invention,communication module 14 is developed as a socket or even as an adapter,in which a mobile telephone can be inserted for data transmission.

The command sequence is typically stored in the nonvolatile storagedevice and is processed. In this manner it is also possible to generatea log regarding all command sequences received and processed over aspecific period.

In addition to recording operating data, messages may also be generatedand sent via the mobile telephone system. The releasing criteria forthese messages are set by appropriate parameters. Such criteria may bemet for example by the exceeding of logical and/or physical limitingvalues and of corresponding combinations. Also the generation ofcyclical messages according to fixed time patterns as well as thetargeted query of logbook data, e.g. by a service center, may beprovided.

Monitoring unit 10 also makes it possible for the user to affect theexecution of the command sequence using operational control elements 22and to have specific data presented on display unit 20.

Automatic monitoring, for example, may be provided for wear limits andexpendable supplies so as to ensure an early detection of criticalstatus parameters and to offer warning signals as part of apre-diagnosis and the individual recording of operating data for thepurpose of furnishing proof. The advantage as compared to classicalmethods of static data recording lies in the flexible programmability ofautomatic and mutually independent monitoring processes.

FIG. 2 shows the structure of a command sequence or macro. Macro 30contains the elements functions 32 and data 34. Element functions 32describes the functional sequence of the commands to be executed and thedata which are to be recorded and/or processed in the monitored vehicle.Element data 34 contains, for example, comparison parameters andboundary values required for executing functions 32.

FIG. 3 illustrates in a flow chart the sequence of a preferred specificembodiment of the method according to the present invention. In a step40, macro 30 is generated by a central station and transmitted to avehicle. Processing unit 12 checks macro 30 for plausibility in a step42. In a step 44, macro 30 is subsequently stored in nonvolatile storagedevice 18. Afterwards, the command sequence or macro is executed in astep 46.

An example of an application of the method according to the presentinvention is described below. In this application, a vehicle is given aspecific geographical residence permit, i.e. the vehicle may only beoperated within specific geographical boundaries. With the aid of theconfigurable logbook, positional data are recorded only when the vehicleleaves its area of residence.

Possible applications exist, for example, in car rental agencies whichrent vehicles to be operated only in specific countries or to be usedonly within a limited operating radius.

In the corresponding command sequence, current positional data arecompared to the positional data in macro 30. In the case of deviations,these data are stored for the time being and optionally a correspondingmessage is generated which is transmitted via a mobile telephone system.This process is cyclically repeated.

Additional applications for the device according to the presentinvention are in theft-deterrence features, where, in case of a vehicletheft, a message is generated to the main station or an intervention ismade in the engine control unit and the next start is prevented(anti-theft blocking).

Furthermore, it is possible to log trips, the log structure beingmodifiable as desired. Odometer readings, positional data, times of dayand comparable information may be recorded for example. This thusrepresents an expanded trip recorder functionality. Individual logs mayalso be transmitted wirelessly to a main station. Possible applicationsfor this are the evaluation of the legal position in the wake of anaccident, the furnishing of a tax receipt for taxation authorities or areceipt for an employer.

The device according to the present invention also allows for themonitoring of engine characteristic curves and operating data. For thispurpose, operating data of the engine control unit are recorded whenpreviously defined limiting values are exceeded. This occurs, forexample, when the maximum engine speed or the maximum temperature areexceeded and may be used, for example, in connection with amanufacturer's warranty as evidence of incorrect usage or in connectionwith a mobility guarantee.

Moreover, special cargo may be monitored as well, i.e. temperaturemonitoring cycles are provided which can be dynamically adjusted to thecurrent cargo. In addition, fuel consumption may also be ascertained, asproof for invoicing purposes for example.

It is also possible to ascertain emissions. This may be used as proof ofthe correct functioning of the catalytic converter. Special exhaust gasanalyses may thereby be simplified or avoided.

Monitoring of special parts subject to wear can also be implemented, forexample for calculating the mileage of tires following a newinstallation, the mileage since the last oil change and the mileagesince the renewal of the braking system.

1-15. (canceled)
 16. A method for recording operating data of a motorvehicle, comprising: generating a command sequence; transmitting thecommand sequence to a monitoring unit in the motor vehicle; andprocessing the command sequence in a processing unit in the monitoringunit.
 17. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein: the commandsequence determines a type of operating data recording.
 18. The methodas recited in claim 16, wherein: the command sequence is generated in aremote location and is transmitted wirelessly from the remote locationto the processing unit.
 19. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein:the command sequence is transmitted by a mobile storage medium.
 20. Themethod as recited in claim 16, wherein: the command sequence istransmitted via a mobile telephone network.
 21. The method as recited inclaim 16, further comprising: checking the command sequence in theprocessing unit.
 22. The method as recited in claim 16, furthercomprising: storing the command sequence in a storage unit.
 23. Themethod as recited in claim 16, further comprising: transmitting datafrom the monitoring unit.
 24. The method as recited in claim 16, furthercomprising: transmitting a message when a specific criterion is met. 25.A device for recording operating data, comprising: an arrangement forgenerating a command sequence; a communication module for transmittingthe command sequence to a monitoring unit in the motor vehicle; aprocessing unit for processing the command sequence; and a storage unit.26. The device as recited in claim 25, further comprising: a displayunit.
 27. The device as recited in claim 25, further comprising:operational control elements.
 28. A method for recording operating dataof a motor vehicle, comprising: causing a monitoring unit in the motorvehicle to receive a generated command sequence; and processing thegenerated command sequence in a processing unit in the monitoring unit.29. A recording medium storing a computer program that when executedresults in a performance of a method comprising: generating a commandsequence; transmitting the command sequence to a monitoring unit in amotor vehicle; and processing the command sequence in a processing unitin the monitoring unit.